Apparatus, systems and methods for media content event quick access queue

ABSTRACT

Media content event access systems and methods are operable to indicate media content event access options. An exemplary embodiment presents a first listing that indicates a plurality of user-specified media content events of a user&#39;s watch list, receives user input corresponding to a selection of one of the user-specified media content events indicated on the first listing, presents a second listing indicating access information, wherein the second listing presents access information that informs the user of at least one access option that may be selected by the user to cause the media device to access the selected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events, and wherein the second listing presents content attribute information that informs the user of at least one attribute of the selected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events that is provided by the associated content source.

BACKGROUND

Media devices, such as a set top box, a stereo, a television, a computersystem, a game system, or the like, are often configured to receivebroadcasting media content over a communication system. The mediacontent is provided to such media devices using a predefined contentformat, which may be optionally encrypted. Such broadcasted mediacontent must be viewed by the user of the media device as it is receivedin the broadcasted communication medium, or electronically saved into amemory medium for later viewing.

The media content typically comprises video content, audio content, andother information of interest such as closed stream captioninginformation and/or information describing attributes pertaining to themedia content. The video portion of the media content, when decoded andpresented on a display, presents a series of sequentially presentedstill images which are each presented for some predefined duration. Bypresenting each image for a short duration, the sequentiallypresentation of the series of images results in the perception by aviewer of a motion picture (interchangeably referred to herein as avideo). The corresponding audio portion of the media content ispresented in synchronism with presentation of the video such that theuser hears sounds, such as actor dialogue and/or music, while they areviewing the video portion of the media content.

The streaming media content (interchangeably referred to herein as amedia content stream) includes a series of media content events.Typically, a media content event presents theme-based visual and audiocontent to a user for their enjoyment and/or for informative purposes.Examples of such theme-based content includes movies, films, serialprogramming, sporting events, documentaries, newscasts, religiousprograms, commercials (typically of short duration with advertisingcontent), or the like. Serial programming may present a continuing plotand/or theme, often with the same cast of actors, in a sequentialepisode-by-episode basis that is available periodically. Advertisements,commercials or the like may be interspersed within the media contentevent.

In a broadcast environment, the media content event is broadcast by abroadcast content provider to a plurality of media devices as a streamof media content residing in the media content stream. Typically, at anygiven instant in time, the media device may be receiving hundreds of, oreven thousands of, concurrently broadcasting media content streams eachwith one or more streaming media content events. Broadcast andpresentation of a media content event occurs over some time span(duration). Thus, the media content event has a beginning portion thatusually includes identifying information about the media content event,such as music, text of a title, or other information. When the userviews this beginning portion of the media content event, the userintuitively understands that they are viewing the beginning of the mediacontent event. This identifying information is also electronicallyincluded in the media content stream to identify a particular mediacontent event, and may reside in meta data or the like.

As time progresses, the entirety of the streaming media content event ofinterest is broadcast and/or is presented to the user as the stream ofmedia content is being received in the media content stream. At somepoint, the media content event of interest comes to its end(conclusion). A viewing user intuitively understands that the mediacontent event of interest is ending upon viewing the concluding portionof the media content event. Such concluding portions of the mediacontent event typically include the closing credits portion, wherein theclosing credits is visible to the user. Typically, when the user isviewing a live broadcast of the media content event, a next mediacontent event begins after the conclusion of the media content event ofinterest. Alternatively, one or more commercials or the like may next bepresented to the user prior to the initial presentation of the next livebroadcast media content event (assuming that the user chooses to viewthat next media content event).

To facilitate informing the user of the particular broadcasting mediacontent events that are currently available in the broadcasting mediacontent streams, the media device is configured to generate and presentan electronic program guide (EPG) on the display to a viewing user. TheEPG is a type of a user interface that presents a menu, or a series ofmenus, that describe available media content events that are availablefor presentation. The EPG has the look and feel of a table that uses acombination of text and/or symbols to indicate the media content eventviewing choices that may be selected by the user. The media contentevent information presented on the EPG may include the title ofavailable program, the “channel” of the available program, the scheduledbroadcast start time, the scheduled broadcast end time, the date ofpresentation, and optionally some amount of supplemental information(such as a brief description of the media content event). The EPG isinteractive with the user. The user, by actuating one or more of thecontrollers 150 on their remote control 148, is able to “scroll” or“navigate” about the EPG to select a media content event of interest.Accordingly, when viewing the EPG, the user is able to select acurrently received live broadcast media content event for presentation.

Often, the user is interested in a particular media content event thatis not currently broadcasting. In the event that the particular mediacontent event of interest is scheduled for a future broadcast, thescheduled broadcast times and providing channels of the media contentevent are indicated on the EPG. If the user is able to identify thescheduled broadcast of the media content event of interest on the EPG(after a manual search using one or more EPG search tools), the user isable to schedule that particular media content event of interest forpresentation and/or recording into a digital video recorder when themedia content event of interest is broadcast. If the media content eventof interest is automatically recorded (saved into a recording device)when it is broadcast, the user is able to later watch the recorded mediacontent event of interest at a later time of their choosing.

However, the user may not be able to find a particular media contentevent of interest on the EPG using the EPG search tools or by using amanual search process. Further, even if the particular media contentevent of interest is scheduled for future broadcast, the media contentevent of interest may not be indicated on the EPG in view of the limitedfuture time span that an EPG encompasses, which is typically limited toone or two weeks in advance of the current date.

Alternatively, the media content event of interest may be available atthe media device through a video on demand (VOD) provider system. TheVOD content provider system is configured to access and then stream themedia content event of interest to the media device in response to arequest initiated by the user. Typically, a VOD content provideroperating such VOD content provider systems charge a fee for access to aparticular media content event. Alternatively, or additionally, the VODcontent provider system may be available only to those users who havepaid a premium subscription fee for access to the particular VOD contentprovider system that has the media content event of interest availablefor on-demand viewing. The VOD content provider may provide access totheir VOD content provider system via the broadcast provider, and/or mayprovide access to their VOD content provider system via a communicationsystem, such as the Internet or the like.

Alternatively, or additionally, some VOD content providers may notcharge an access fee, but may instead interleave various commercialsinto the streaming media content. Thus, the user is required to view thecommercials along with their requested media content event of interest.Such VOD content provider systems may disable various trick functions,such as fast forward operations, so as to force the user to view thecommercials.

If the particular media content event of interest is available on one ormore VOD systems, the user must manually search the electronic data base(that is, the content catalogue) of each VOD content provider toascertain whether the particular media content event of interest isavailable from the VOD system. Searching through several different VODsystems can be time consuming for the user.

In some instances, the particular media content event of interest may,at some point in time, become available on a memory medium that the usercan obtain. The physical memory medium is played be an external devicethat is coupleable to the media device. An example memory medium is adigital video disc (DVD). Any suitable memory medium may be used tostore a media content event. The user simply needs to physically obtaina copy of the memory medium or DVD, such as by purchasing or renting,and then play the media content event of interest on a suitable externaldevice that is communicatively coupled to the media device (such as aDVD player that plays a DVD). In some situations, the memory medium orDVD may be available at a retail outlet, such as a retailer, a moviestore or a kiosk. Alternatively, the memory medium or DVD may beavailable from a provider via a mail or postal service.

In addition to the time consuming effort required to identify aparticular media content event of interest that may be accessible by themedia device is the additional difficulty encountered by users inlocating the particular media content event of interest from aparticular source that they are willing to use. For example, the usermay not be willing to pay a premium charge to access the media contentevent of interest on a pay-per-view based VOD system, but would ratherprefer to wait for the media content event of interest to becomeavailable for free during a broadcast of the media content event ofinterest. As another example, the user may prefer a DVD format over aformat used by a VOD access system. As yet another example, the user mayhave access to a first premium service VOD content provider who does notyet have the media content event of interest available on theirparticular VOD system, while another VOD content provider that the userhas not subscribed to does have that particular media content event ofinterest currently available on their VOD. One skilled in the artappreciates that in view of the numerous content access alternativesavailable to the user, that keeping track of the content access optionsthat the user has to access a particular media content event of interestmay become rather complex and difficult to manage.

Various user-assistance schemes have been developed to assist the userto identify available media content events of interest that the user mayaccess through their media device. The broadcast content providermanaging the broadcasting system used by the user's media devicetypically has a search based system that permits the user to search fora particular media content event of interest based on its title. Or, thesearch system may be based on some other characteristic of the mediacontent event, such as by a genre that is associated with the mediacontent event of interest (action, science fiction, comedy, etc.), aparticular actor name, production date or the like.

Additionally, each individual VOD content provider typically has aunique proprietary search and media content event listing system that issearchable by the user to indicate the available media content eventsthat are available on that particular VOD content provider system. Suchproprietary search and media content event listing system may beavailable to the media device via the broadcast content providermanaging the broadcasting system used by the user's media device.Alternatively, or additionally, the individual VOD content provider mayprovide access to their proprietary search and media content eventlisting system via a communication system, such as the internet or thelike.

Similarly, providers of content on a physical media may also have aproprietary search and media content event listing system that listsavailable media content events that are stored on physical media. Insome proprietary search and media content event listing systems, theuser may be able to reserve a particular media content event ofinterest, if available, for later pick up. Alternatively, oradditionally, the proprietary search and media content event listingsystem may permit the user to order the media content event of interestfor delivery to their residence or other predefined address.

Various other user assistance tools have been developed to facilitatethe monitoring of media content event availability. A non-limitingexemplary system is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/609,302 to Roberts et al., published as U.S. publication2011/0107374, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.The Roberts et al. system describes a watch list maintenance facilitythat maintains media content watch list data that may includeidentifiers, titles, descriptions or the like of media content instances(that is, a media content event) that are available to a user. A watchlist user interface is provided that lists media content instancesidentified by a user. The watch list interface indicates variousinformation pertaining to each listed media content instance. The usermay, in some situations, even download a particular listed media contentinstance from the indicated provider via the watch list user interface.Further, the Roberts et al. watch list data may be updated based on avariety of events.

However, the availability of a particular media content event ofinterest that is concurrently available from a plurality of differentcontent providers adds an unexpected layer of complexity to the problemof keeping track of a list of user-specified media content events ofinterest. The particulars of the media content event of interest fromeach different provider are likely different. For example, the cost toaccess a particular media content event of interest may vary fromprovider to provider. The media content event of interest may beavailable during a future broadcast for later recording and/or viewing(interchangeably referred to herein as presentation), or, the same mediacontent event of interest may be available for immediate presentationvia one or more VOD systems.

Accordingly, there is a need in the arts to provide a more comprehensivesystem and method of indicating the availability of a particular mediacontent event of interest to a user, and to indicate to the user thevarious conditions upon which each content provider makes thatparticular media content event available. Further, there is a need inthe arts to provide an effective and convenient way for the user, oncethe user has identified a preferred content provider of a particularmedia content event of interest based on their preferences, to haveselect the media content event of interest for delivery to their mediadevice.

SUMMARY

Systems and methods of indicating media content event access optionsthat may be used by a media device to access at least one user-specifiedmedia content event are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment presents afirst listing that indicates a plurality of user-specified media contentevents of a user's watch list, receives user input corresponding to aselection of one of the user-specified media content events indicated onthe first listing, presents a second listing indicating accessinformation, wherein the second listing presents access information thatinforms the user of at least one access option that may be selected bythe user to cause the media device to access the selected one of theplurality of user-specified media content events, and wherein the secondlisting presents content attribute information that informs the user ofat least one attribute of the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events that is provided by the associatedcontent source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments are described in detail below withreference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a media content eventquick access queue system implemented in a media device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of media content event access network in whichan embodiment of a media content event quick access queue system obtainsaccess to indicated media content events of interest shown on apresented content queue;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing greater detail of selectedcomponents of a media device provisioned with an embodiment of the mediacontent event quick access queue system;

FIG. 4 is a second page of an example content queue that shows a greaterdetail of information about a particular user-specified media contentevent that is included in the user's watch list; and

FIG. 5 is a later presented and updated second page of an examplecontent queue that shows a greater detail of information about aparticular user-specified media content event that is included in theuser's watch list.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a media content eventquick access queue system 100 implemented in a media device 102, suchas, but not limited to, a set top box (STB). Embodiments of the mediacontent event quick access queue system 100 may be implemented in othermedia devices, such as, but not limited to, a stereo, a surround-soundreceiver, a radio, a television (TV), a digital video disc (DVD) player,a digital video recorder (DVR), a game playing device, or a personalcomputer (PC) that is configured to receive and to facilitatepresentation of a media content event of interest.

Embodiments of the media content event quick access queue system 100 areconfigured to receive a user specification that identifies a mediacontent event of interest that the user is interested in viewing. Inresponse to the user specification, information associated with and thatidentifies the specified media content event of interest is added into amedia content event queue data 104. The information of the media contentevent queue data 104 (interchangeably referred to herein as the “queue104”) is managed by embodiments of the media content event quick accessqueue system 100 using any suitable database format such as a list,catalogue or the like. The information residing in the media contentevent queue data 104 is described below in greater detail.

The information in the media content event queue data 104 is used togenerate a graphical user interface (GUI) content queue 106(interchangeably referred to herein as a “watch list” that is a firstlisting of a plurality of user-specified media content events).

The example first page of the content queue 106, when presented to theuser, lists information identifying their selected media content eventsof interest. The content queue 106 further identifies one or morecontent providers that have the media content event of interestavailable to the media device 102, and identifies various accessconditions under which each of the indicated media content events ofinterest are available from each of the plurality of different contentproviders.

In some situations, the user may be interested in immediately viewingthe specified media content event of interest indicated in the contentqueue 106. Or, the user may be interested in later viewing the indicatedmedia content event of interest. The content queue 106 provides amechanism wherein the user may select one of the indicated media contentevents for immediate presentation and/or for recording.

For example, a particular indicated media content event of interest maybe immediately available from a first VOD content provider for a premiumfee (typically, using a commercial-free high definition format).Alternatively, the indicated media content event of interest may beimmediately available from a second VOD content provider for free,though with commercials interleaved throughout the media content eventof interest such that the user must view the commercials (typically,with trick function operations disabled). Alternatively, the indicatedmedia content event of interest may be available to the user on aphysical medium, such as a DVD or the like, from a third provider at aspecified future date. And, as yet another alternative, the indicatedmedia content event of interest may be available from fourth VOD contentprovider for free at some specified future date.

Since the content queue 106 is configured to indicate all of the mediacontent event access options to the user, the user may make an informedchoice as to how their media device 102 is to access the indicated mediacontent event of interest. For example, the user may choose toimmediately view the indicated media content event of interest from thefirst VOD content provider by paying the premium fee. Alternatively, theuser may choose to immediately view the free version of the indicatedmedia content event of interest (that includes the commercials that mustalso be viewed). Alternatively, the user may simply wait for theindicated media content event of interest to become available under freeaccess conditions at a future date, such as when the indicated mediacontent event of interest is broadcast for free to the public or isavailable as part of a premium content service that the user hassubscribed to. Since the media content event quick access queue system100 updates the content queue 106, the user will always be able toappreciate the most current access information for the indicated mediacontent events of interest.

As another non-limiting example, the indicated media content event ofinterest may be a newly released movie that is not yet available foraccess at the media device 102 since the indicated media content eventof interest is currently available only in theatres. At some later time,one or more content providers may have the user-specified media contentevent of interest available for access by the media device 102. When theindicated media content event of interest finally becomes available tothe media device 102, the content queue 106 is updated and thenindicates to the user the availability of and the access conditions forthe user-specified media content event of interest that is indicated onthe presented content queue 106.

The exemplary media device 102 is communicatively coupled to a mediapresentation system 108 that includes a visual display device 110, suchas a television (hereafter, generically a TV), and an audio presentationdevice 112, such as a surround sound receiver controlling an audioreproduction device. The video portion of a presenting media contentevent or a presented content queue 106 is presented to a user on adisplay 114 of the visual presentation device 110. The audio portion ofa presenting media content event is reproduced as audible sounds by oneor more speakers 116 of the audio presentation device 112. Other typesof output devices may also be coupled to the media device 102, includingthose providing any sort of stimuli sensible by a human being, such astemperature, vibration and the like. In some embodiments, the mediadevice 102 and one or more of the components of the media presentationsystem 108 may be integrated into a single electronic device.

The non-limiting exemplary media device 102 comprises a media contentstream interface 118, a processor system 120, a memory medium 122, anoptional digital video recorder (DVR) 124, and an optional communicationsystem interface 126. Other media devices 102 may include some, or mayomit some, of the above-described media processing components. In anexample embodiment, the media content event queue data 104 resides inthe memory medium 122. In other embodiments, the media content eventqueue data 104 may reside in a different memory medium that is residentor that is remote from the media device 102. Further, additionalcomponents of the media device 102 not described herein may be includedin alternative embodiments.

The functionality of the media device 102, here a set top box, is nowbroadly described. In a satellite broadcast system (not shown), a mediacontent broadcast provider provides media content that is received inone or more broadcasting multiple media content streams 128 multiplexedtogether in one or more transport channels. The transport channels withthe media content streams 128 are communicated to the media device 102from a media system sourced from a remote head end facility (not shown)operated by the media content broadcast provider. The media device 102is configured to receive one or more broadcasted satellite signalsdetected by an antenna (not shown). Non-limiting examples of other mediasystems that broadcast a media content stream 128 include a cablesystem, a radio frequency (RF) communication system, and the Internet.Here, broadcasting refers to the process of communicating one or moremedia content streams 128 over a broadcast communication system (notshown) to a plurality of media devices 102 that are communicativelycoupled to the broadcast communication system. Often, the media contentis broadcast to hundreds of, or even thousands of, media devices 102that concurrently receive the broadcasting media content stream(s) 128.

The one or more media content streams 128 are received by the mediacontent stream interface 118. The media content streams 128 areprocessed in accordance with instructions received from the processorsystem 120. The processor system 120, based upon a request for aparticular broadcasting media content event specified by a user, parsesout media content associated with the specified media content event. Themedia content event is then assembled into a stream of video and/oraudio information that is streamed out to components of the mediapresentation system 108, such as the visual display device 110 and/orthe audio presentation device 112. Alternatively, or additionally, theparsed out media content may be saved into the DVR 124 for laterpresentation. The DVR 124 may be directly provided in, locally connectedto, or remotely connected to, the media device 102. In alternativeembodiments, the media content streams 128 may stored for laterdecompression, processing and/or decryption.

The exemplary media device 102 is configured to receive commands from auser via a remote control 130. The remote control 130 includes one ormore controllers 132 disposed on the surface of the remote control 130.The user, by actuating one or more of the controllers 132, causes theremote control 130 to generate and transmit commands, via a wirelesssignal 134, to the media device 102. Preferably, each individual one ofthe controllers 132 has a specific predefined function that causes aspecific operation by the media device 102 and/or by components of themedia presentation system 108. The commands communicated from the remotecontrol 130 then control the media device 102 and/or control componentsof the media presentation system 108. The wireless signal 134 may be aninfrared (IR) signal or a radio frequency (RF) signal that is detectableby the media device 102.

A novel remote control includes at least one controller 136 that isconfigured to at least initiate operation of the media content eventquick access queue system 100. In some embodiments, the controller 136has a recognizable color, symbol or other marking that the userintuitively understands or remembers to be associated with managingtheir watch list. In an example embodiment, actuation of the controller136 initiates presentation of the content queue 106 on the display 114.Alternatively, or additionally, actuation of the controller 136 when anEPG (not shown) is being presented on the display 114 may cause acurrently focused to media content event to be added to the contentqueue 106. Multiple controllers 132 may be configured for operation ofthe media content event quick access queue system 100.

A media content event may be stored on a memory medium 138 that iscommunicatively coupleable to an external device 140. An example memorymedium 138 is a DVD, thought the media content event may be stored onany suitable memory medium. Another non-limiting example of a memorymedium is a flash drive or uniform serial bus (USB) drive. The externaldevice 140, such as a DVD player, is communicatively coupled to themedia device 102. In operation, the media content event stored on thememory medium 138 is accessed by the external device 140, and is thenstreamed out as a media content stream to the media device 102. In someembodiments, the external device 140 may be integrated into the mediadevice 102 as an internal component.

A media content event may also be available to the media device 102 froma remote site (not shown). The media device 102 communicatively couplesto the remote site via a suitable communication system 142. Thecommunication system interface 126 is configured to communicativelycouple the media device to the communication system using a suitablewireless or wire-based connector and/or link. A non-limiting example ofan external site is a VOD system (not shown) operated by a VOD contentprovider. Here, when the user requests a particular indicated mediacontent event of interest, the media device 102 communicates a requestfor that indicated media content event the remote site. The remote sitethen streams the requested media content event, via the communicationsystem 142, to the media device 102.

A simplified hypothetical content queue 106 is illustrated as beingpresented on the display 114. The content queue 106 comprises an examplefirst page illustrated in FIG. 1 that presents a listing ofuser-specified media content events which the user is interested inaccessing at some future time via their media device 102. In somesituations, one or more of the indicated media content events ofinterest may not be currently accessible at the media device 102. Inother instances, one or more of the indicated media content events ofinterest may be currently accessible by the media device 102 from one ormore content sources. Thus, the content queue 106 informs the viewinguser about the current availability of a particular media content eventof interest that the user has previously added into their media contentevent queue data 104.

The presented first page of the content queue 106 provides variousinformation that intuitively informs the user about each listed mediacontent event. The information, in a non-limiting example embodiment, ispresented using a column format. In the simplified illustrated contentqueue 106, a first indicated media content event of interest is shown atthe top of the content queue 106. Near the bottom of the content queue106 is an “i^(th)” indicated media content event of interest(understanding that, in practice, a plurality of other indicated mediacontent events of interest are shown there between). In the event thatthe size of the display 114 is not sufficient to indicate all of theuser-specified media content events, a scrolling system, paging systemor the like may be used to present other indicated media content eventsof interest to the user that are not initially presented when thecontent queue 106 is initially opened by the user. Thus, the contentqueue 106 may have as few, or as many, user-specified media contentevents as the user is interested in accessing with their media device102.

In the simplified hypothetical content queue 106 of FIG. 1, theinformation associated with an indicated media content event of interestincludes textual information 144 and an optional graphical element 146.In an exemplary embodiment, the user navigates about the content queue106 to “focus” on a particular one of the indicated media content eventsof interest (here, the focus on the first indicated media content eventof interest is indicated using a bold font for the presented textualinformation 144 and a bolding outline of the optional graphical element146). Thus, FIG. 1 hypothetically illustrates that the user hasnavigated to and focused on the first indicated media content event ofinterest. The other indicated media content events of interest, such asthe last “i^(th)” indicated media content event of interest, has notbeen focused on by the user.

The term focus generally refers to a visual indication that is presentedto the viewing user in response to their intended selection of an itemthat is listed on a graphical user interface, such as an EPG or theexample content queue 106. The user is able to navigate about apresented EPG or the example content queue 106 by activating selectedones of the controllers 132 of their remote control 130. For example, acontroller 132 associated with a down movement or downward directionarrow may move the current focus downward to the next lower item shownin a listing presented on the EPG or the example content queue 106.Focusing may be indicated in any suitable manner that informs the userof the current item that they have focused on. Further, the userappreciates that when a related operation is performed on the focused-toitem using the EPG or the example content queue 106, the operation willbe performed only on the focused to item and not on other non-focusedlisted items. In FIG. 1, the focused-to item is the first indicatedmedia content event of interest.

The textual information 144 of a listed item on the content queue 106provides various information of interest to the user. In an exampleembodiment, the textual information 144 indicates the title of theindicated media content event. Here, the title of the first indicatedmedia content event is “Content A Title” (which is appreciated torepresent any suitable title that the associated media content event hasbeen named by its producers). Optionally, the textual information 144indicates a date that the user added the media content event to themedia content event queue data 104. Here, the date conceptuallyillustrated in the textual information 144 as the Request (REQ.) datexxxxx. Thus, the user is informed how long the indicated media contentevent has been on their watch list. Alternatively, or additionally, aduration that the media content event has been in the media contentevent queue data 104 may be indicated to the user.

The textual information 144 optionally indicates the number of contentsources that the indicated media content event is currently accessiblefrom using their media device 102. This novel feature informs the userabout the number of access alternatives that they currently have forthat particular indicated media content event. For example, the firstindicated media content event indicates that the media content event isavailable from six different content providers (here, conceptuallyillustrated with the text “Content Sources: 6”). In contrast, the userunderstands that the “i^(th)” indicated media content event of interestis accessible from only one content provider (here, conceptuallyillustrated with the text “Content Sources: 1”). Since the content queue106 is frequently updated, when the number of content providers thatprovide access to the indicated media content event changes, the usercan be informed of the increasing (or decreasing) availability of theindicated media content event.

In some instances, the user may have specified a media content eventthat the media device 102 cannot yet access. In such situations, anindication such as “Content Sources: 0” or Content Sources: NONE″ may beindicated to the user to inform the user that that particular indicatedmedia content event is not yet accessible to the media device 102. Sincethe content queue 106 is frequently updated, when that indicated mediacontent event finally becomes available and the availability is thenindicated to the viewing user, the user can be informed of the newavailability of the indicated media content event.

Any suitable information that is of interest to the user may be includedin the textual information 144. Some embodiments may provide a briefdescription of the indicated media content event and/or indicate itsgenre (action movie, comedy, love story, etc.). Actors, productiondates, scene locations may be optionally indicated in the textualinformation 144.

The optional graphical element 146 provides a visual indication to theviewing user about the identity of the associated indicated mediacontent event. The optional graphical element 146 may be a still imageand/or may be a relatively short video clip, such as from a part of theindicated media content event. Thus, the viewing user more quickly andreadily is able to identify an indicated media content event by viewingits associated optional graphical element 146. Any suitable optionalgraphical element 146 may be used by the various embodiments. Forexample, the first indicated media content event is identified by aoptional graphical element 146 a showing a street scene with an actor.The “i^(th)” indicated media content event of interest is identified bya optional graphical element 146 i showing a speaking actor. Presumably,the scene and/or the actors shown in the respective optional graphicalelements 146 a and 146 i are well known, and thus, are readilyidentifiable by the viewing user so that the user more easily is able toidentify the associated indicated media content event.

The example content queue 106 optionally comprises one or more activeregions 148 (interchangeably referred to herein as a hot spot and/or aGUI button) that facilitate management of the indicated media contentevents shown in the content queue 106. Each active region 148, whennavigated to and focused on by the user, is configured to perform aspecific operation on a currently focused-to indicated media contentevent. The performed operation is indicated using text which intuitivelyinforms the user of the specific operation. Various embodiments mayinclude more, or may have fewer, of the non-limiting operationsillustrated in the hypothetical content queue 106 of FIG. 1. Anysuitable function or operation may be included on the content queue 106depending upon the embodiment of the media content event quick accessqueue system 100. Further, a dedicated one of the controllers 132 on theremote control 130 may be assigned to perform the same operation as theassociated hot spot.

A first example operation used to manage indicated media content eventsis a delete operation. The hot spot 148 a, indicated by the text “DEL”within the focus box 148 a, intuitively informs the user that theirselection of this hot spot will cause the deletion of a currentlyfocused-to one of the indicated media content events from the mediacontent event queue data 104. Thus, after viewing a particular one ofthe indicated media content events, the user may remove this particularmedia content event from their watch list. In the simplified contentqueue 106 of FIG. 1, the user appreciates that activation of the deleteoperation will remove the first indicated media content event (indicatedby the text 144 a and the optional graphical element 146 a) from theirwatch list.

A second example operation used to manage indicated media content eventsis a play operation. The hot spot 148 b, indicated by the text “PLAY”within the focus box 148 b, intuitively informs the user that theirselection of this hot spot will cause the media device to access andthen present the currently focused-to indicated media content event.Thus, after understanding that a particular one of the indicated mediacontent events is available from a content provider as indicated by thetextual information 144, the user may initiate immediate presentation ofthis particular media content event using a play operation.

In the simplified content queue 106 of FIG. 1, the user appreciates thatactivation of the play operation will initiate presentation of thecurrently focused-to first indicated media content event (indicated bythe text 144 a and the optional graphical element 146 a). However, inthis simplified example, since there are six available options foraccessing the first indicated media content event (from six differentcontent providers), the media content event quick access queue system100 will present those options to the user so that the user can select apreferred access option from the six available access options. Thecurrently available content access options are presented to the user inresponse to their selection of this play operation.

If the user navigates to and focuses on the “i^(th)” indicated mediacontent event of interest which has only a single access option, theplay operation will cause the media device 102 to access the “i^(th)”indicated media content event of interest from the one content sourcethat the media device 102 currently has access to since there is onlyone content access option. However, in some embodiments, a confirmationpop-up pane or the like may be presented to the user in response toselection of the play operation to confirm the user's intent forimmediate access and presentation of the “i^(th)” indicated mediacontent event of interest. This confirmation feature may be significantif there is a cost that will otherwise be incurred by the user if the“i^(th)” indicated media content event of interest is accessed and ispresented.

A third example operation used to manage indicated media content eventsis a search operation. The hot spot 148 c, indicated by the text “SRCH”within the focus box 148 c, intuitively informs the user that theirselection of this hot spot will search operation of the indicated mediacontent events. For example, the media content event queue data 104 mayhave many different media content events included in the user's watchlist such that only a limited number of indicated media content eventscan be shown on a presented content queue 106. Here, the user may beinterested in finding a particular one of the indicated media contentevents. The search operation permits the user to perform a search for aparticular media content event of interest that has been previouslyadded into their watch list. In response to this user selection, apop-up pane, search window or the like is presented to the user. Anysearch process now known or later developed may be used by the variousembodiments. For example, a title search, name search or the like may beused to identify one or more associated media content events that havebeen saved into the user's watch list. Searches may be based on othercriteria, such as genre or the like.

The particular order in which the indicated media content events areshown in a presented content queue 106 may vary depending upon theembodiment and/or a user selection or preference. In an exampleembodiment, the indicated media content events are ordered by theselection date (either using earliest specified or latest specified).Alternatively, or additionally, the indicated media content events maybe ordered alphabetically by their title. Genres may also be used forordering the indicated media content events. Any suitable orderingsystem, or a combination of ordering systems, may be sued by the variousembodiments. For example, the indicated media content events may beinitially grouped by their genre (action movie, comedy, love story,etc.), and then ordered based on their title. For example, the user canquickly find all comedies that they have added into the media contentevent queue data 104.

A fourth example operation used to manage indicated media content eventsis a sort operation. The hot spot 148 d, indicated by the text “SORT”within the focus box 148 d, intuitively informs the user that theirselection of this hot spot will cause a sorting change that modifies theorder of the indicated media content events shown on the watch list. Forexample, the order of the indicated media content events may be based onthe date that the user added each particular media content event ofinterest into their watch list. However, the user may wish to reorderthe listing by the title of the media content events. Thus, the searchoperation permits the user to specify and/or change the listing order ofthe indicated media content events.

In an example embodiment, in response to a selection of the sort option,a pop-up pane or the like may be presented to the user which indicates aplurality of sort options. The user may then select a particular orderoption that is of interest.

A fifth example operation used to manage indicated media content eventsis a record operation. The hot spot 148 e, indicated by the text “REC”within the focus box 148 e, intuitively informs the user that theirselection of this hot spot will cause the media device 102 toautomatically record the selected one of the indicated media contentevents using the record operation. This operation may be desirable inthe event that the user is informed or knows that the indicated mediacontent event will be broadcast to the media device 102 at some futurepoint in time. For example, the textual information 144 may optionallyindicate that the indicated media content event will be available in afuture broadcast, thus informing that they may opt to record theindicated media content event when it is broadcast. Here, the user doesnot have to configure their media device to perform the recording of theindicated media content event when it is eventually broadcast. However,in some embodiments, a confirmation pop-up pane or the like may be usedto confirm the user's intent for a recording of the indicated mediacontent event of interest. This feature may be significant if there is acost that will otherwise be incurred by the user if the indicated mediacontent event of interest is recorded.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of media content event access network 200 inwhich an embodiment of media content event quick access queue system 100obtains access to indicated media content events of interest shown on apresented content queue 106. To facilitate disclosure of the operationof an exemplary embodiment of the media content event quick access queuesystem 100, access to and delivery of media content events to the mediadevice 102 are briefly described. A broadcast content provider receivesmedia content at its media content broadcast facility 202, in the formof a plurality of media content events, from a plurality of localprogram providers or other content providers. The provided media contentevents may include, but are not limited to, a television program, anewscast, a broadcast sports event, a movie, or the like. The mediacontent is typically provided in the form of a video stream and asynchronized audio stream, herein referred to interchangeably as themedia content stream 128.

The broadcast content provider processes the received media contentstreams as necessary to prepare them for transmission (interchangeablyreferred to herein as a “broadcast”) to a plurality of media devices102. For example, commercials or the like may be incorporated with aparticular media content event. Alternatively, or additionally, themedia content may be associated with identifiers, such as channel numberand/or station call signs. The processed media content is aggregated andis broadcast over a broadcast system 204 that is received as a mediacontent stream 128 at the media devices 102.

A variety of types of communication systems may be used for thebroadcast system 204 to communicate the media content stream(s) 128 tothe media devices 102. The broadcast system 204 may employ a satellitesystem 206 wherein an uplink signal 208 (with the media content streams128 embedded therein) is communicated from a ground antenna 210 up toone or more satellites 212. Each of the exemplary satellites 212broadcast a wireless satellite signal 214 (with the media contentstreams 128 embedded therein) down to a receiver antenna 216 that iscoupled to the media device 102. The media device 102 receives the mediacontent stream 128 from the receiver antenna 216.

Alternatively, or additionally, the broadcast system 204 may employ anover the air (OTA) system 218 wherein a wireless signal 220 (with themedia content streams 128 embedded therein) is communicated using awireless signal format that is received by the receiver antenna 216. Themedia device 102 then receives the media content stream 128 from thereceiver antenna 216.

Alternatively, or additionally, the broadcast system 204 may employ acable system 222 wherein a wire-based signal is communicated using asuitable cable 224 or the like that is communicatively coupled to themedia device 102. Non-limiting examples of the cable 224 include a fiberoptic cable, a coaxial cable, and telephone line. The media device 102then receives the media content stream 128 via the cable 224.

Summarizing, the user's media device 102 may access media content eventswhen they are broadcast out from the media content broadcast facility202. Since EPG information identifies the broadcast schedule for thebroadcasting of the media content events, embodiments of the mediacontent event quick access queue system 100 can compare theuser-specified media content events of the media content event queuedata 104 with the EPG information to identify scheduled broadcast timesof the user-specified media content events that are in the media contentevent queue data 104. As this broadcast schedule information becomesavailable, the information in the media content event queue data 104 fora broadcasting media content event can be updated and then indicated onthe content queue 106 when presented to the user.

Also, various operations and or information modifications can beperformed on the information in the media content event queue data 104based on changes in the EPG information. For example, if a particularuser-specified media content event is being broadcast for the firsttime, the media device 102 may automatically record the user-specifiedmedia content event as it is being broadcast. Alternatively, oradditionally, the broadcast information and/or schedule may be includedin an updated content queue 106.

The broadcast content provider broadcasts many different media contentevents to the plurality of receiving media devices 102. The mediacontent broadcast facility 202 conceptually illustrates a broadcastmedia content system 226 that generically represents the components ofthe media content broadcast facility 202 that are used to broadcast themedia content events. One skilled in the arts appreciates that thebroadcast media content system 226 is a very complex and complicatedsystem, and is therefore, not described in detail for brevity.

In some situations, a broadcast content provider may also operate avideo on demand (VOD) system 228 that provides a particular mediacontent event to a particular media device in response to a user requestfor that particular media content event. The VOD system 228 has a memorymedium in which a plurality of media content events are stored. Here, auser makes requests to view a particular media content event, and theirmedia device 102 generates and communicates the request to the VODsystem 228. Based on a request received from a media device 102 for aparticular media content event, the VOD system 228 accesses andcommunicates the requested media content event to the media device,typically as a stream of media content. The request identifies both therequested media content event and the requesting media device 102. Inresponse to receiving the request, the VOD system 228 determines if therequesting media device 102 is authorized to access the requested mediacontent event. If access is authorized, then the VOD system 228 thencommunicates the requested media content event to the media device 102(preferably as a stream of media content with the media content streams128 embedded therein). Typically, the media device 102 then presents thereceived media content event to the user. Alternatively, oradditionally, the media content event may be recorded by the mediadevice 102.

In this situation where the media device 102 is authorized to access therequested media content event, the media device 102 has information thatis used to indicate to the user that they are currently authorized toaccess the requested media content event. If the accessible mediacontent event is included as a member of the user-specified mediacontent events of the media content event queue data 104, thenembodiments of the media content event quick access queue system 100 areconfigured to analyze and recognize this information pertaining to theabove-described accessible media content events that the user iscurrently authorized to access. Accordingly, when a content queue 106 ispresented to the user, the current accessibility of the user-specifiedmedia content event included in the user's watch list can beincorporated into the information that is presented to the user.

In some instances, the media device 102 is not currently authorized tohave access to the requested media content event. In such situations,the VOD system 228 may then deny access of that media content event tothe requesting media device 102. That is, the media content event is notcommunicated to the requesting media device 102.

However, the user may have the opportunity to conditionally access therequested media content event from the VOD system 228 if the user meetscertain conditions. For example, access requirements may dictate thatthe media content event may be available on a pay-per-view basis,wherein access to the requested media content event is granted upon anagreement of the user to pay for, or for actual payment of, theconditional access. In response to the user's payment or their agreementto pay, the VOD system 228 may then grant access to the requested mediacontent event. That is, the requested media content event iscommunicated to the requesting media device 102 after payment.

In such conditional access situations where the media device 102 is notcurrently authorized to access a particular media content event, themedia device 102 has information that is used to indicate to the userthat they are not currently authorized to access the requested mediacontent event. Further, the information includes the access requirements(here, that access may be available upon their agreement to pay or uponpayment for access to the requested media content event). If therequested media content event is included as a member of theuser-specified media content events of the user's watch list (that is,in included in the media content event queue data 104), then embodimentsof the media content event quick access queue system 100 are configuredto analyze and recognize this information pertaining to theabove-described conditional access conditions. Accordingly, when acontent queue 106 is presented to the user, the conditional access andthe access requirements associated with the user-specified media contentevents of the media content event queue data 104 can be incorporatedinto the information that is presented to the user.

One skilled in the art appreciates that the VOD system 228 operated bythe broadcast content provider is compatible with the subscriber mediadevices 102 that receive the broadcast indicated media content events.That is, the media devices 102 are configured to communicate with thebroadcast content provider's VOD system 228. In practice, if thesatellite system 206 or the OTA system 218 is used to broadcast mediacontent events, then the media device 102 establishes a communicationlink 230 to the broadcast content provider's VOD system 228. Thecommunication link 230, interchangeably referred to as a backchannel inthe arts, is established between the media device 102 and the VOD system228 through the communication system 142.

The communication system 142 is illustrated as a generic communicationsystem. In one embodiment, the communication system 142 comprises acellular telephone system, such as a radio frequency (RF) wirelesssystem. Accordingly, the media device 102 includes a suitabletransceiver. Alternatively, the communication system 142 may be atelephony system, the Internet, a Wi-fi system, a microwavecommunication system, a fiber optics system, an intranet system, a localaccess network (LAN) system, an Ethernet system, a cable system, a radiofrequency system, a cellular system, an infrared system, a satellitesystem, or a hybrid system comprised of multiple types of communicationmedia. Additionally, embodiments of the media device 102 may beimplemented to communicate using other types of communicationtechnologies, such as but not limited to, digital subscriber loop (DSL),X.25, Internet Protocol (IP), Ethernet, Integrated Services DigitalNetwork (ISDN) and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). Also, embodimentsof the media device 102 may be configured to communicate overcombination systems having a plurality of segments which employdifferent formats for each segment that employ different technologies oneach segment. If a cable system 222 is employed, the cable 224 mayprovide the physical connection for the communication link 230.

In practice, when a user of the media device 102 is interested inobtaining a particular media content event from the broadcast contentprovider's VOD system 228, a request for presentation of a VOD graphicaluser interface (GUI), not shown, that indicates available VOD accessiblemedia content events from the VOD system 228 and the associated accessconditions, if any. The request may be initiated by the user via theirremote control 130. In response to the user request, the VOD GUI ispresented to the user. The VOD GUI may present graphical elements and/ortextual information. The user may navigate about the VOD GUI to focus onand then select a particular VOD accessible media content event ofinterest that the user wishes to access. Typically, many different VODaccessible media content events are available from the broadcast contentprovider's VOD system 228. Thus, multiple pages are required for allavailable VOD accessible media content events to be indicated to theuser on a presented VOD GUI. Further, a layering system orcategorization system may be used to facilitate the indication ofavailable VOD accessible media content events.

In this VOD access situation, the media device 102 has receivedinformation from the broadcast content provider that is used to generateand present the VOD GUI. If one or more of the VOD accessible mediacontent events are included as members of the user-specified mediacontent events of the user's watch list, then embodiments of the mediacontent event quick access queue system 100 are configured to analyzeand recognize this information pertaining to the above-described VODaccessible media content events. Accordingly, when a content queue 106is presented to the user, the VOD accessible media content eventinformation associated with the user-specified media content events ofthe user's watch list can be incorporated into the information that ispresented to the user.

FIG. 2 further illustrates a plurality of Internet content sources 232that provide access to a plurality of VOD accessible media contentevents. Each of these Internet content sources 232 are owned andoperated be a VOD content provider. Each Internet content source 232includes a proprietary VOD system 234. In some situations, access to theproprietary VOD system 234 is limited to subscribers who have paid asubscription fee or the like to the VOD content provider. Alternatively,or additionally, access to a particular available VOD accessible mediacontent event may be provided on a payment basis (such as a pay-per-viewbasis and/or a limited rental basis).

In practice, a media device 102 operates a browser type program toestablish a communication link 230 to a particular Internet contentsource 232 of interest. The media device 102 then accesses a proprietaryVOD GUI that is used to indicate VOD accessible media content eventsthat are available from that particular Internet content source 232. Inresponse to a user selection for a particular media content event,assuming that the access conditions are satisfied, the media contentevent is communicated to the media device 102 (in a media content stream128).

One skilled in the art appreciates that each proprietary VOD GUI of theplurality of Internet content sources 232 is unique. However, thebrowser operated by the media device 102 is configured to be compatiblewith each unique proprietary VOD GUI. Accordingly, the media device 102is able to establish a communication link 230 to any particular Internetcontent source 232 of interest, receive information that is used togenerate and present their proprietary VOD GUI, and then initiate arequest for a particular media content event of interest via thepresented proprietary VOD GUI.

In this VOD access situation where VOD accessible media content eventsare indicated using a proprietary VOD GUI, the media device 102 hasaccess to information that is used to generate and present theproprietary VOD GUI. If one or more of the VOD accessible media contentevents available from a particular interne content source 232 areincluded as members of the user's watch list, then embodiments of themedia content event quick access queue system 100 are configured toanalyze and recognize this information pertaining to the above-describedVOD accessible media content events. Accordingly, when a content queue106 is presented to the user, the VOD accessible media content eventinformation associated with the user-specified media content events ofthe user's watch list can be incorporated into the information that ispresented to the user.

In practice, prior to presentation of a content queue 106 to the user,and/or in response to a request for presentation of the content queue106, embodiments of the media content event quick access queue system100 are configured to access each of the plurality of Internet contentsources 232 and obtain information pertaining to their VOD accessiblemedia content events. That is, the media content event quick accessqueue system 100 operates the browser of media device 102 to establishthe communication link 230, downloads or otherwise obtains theinformation used to generate and present the proprietary VOD GUI of thatparticular Internet content source 232, and then further processes thisinformation for incorporation into the media content event queue data104 for those particular media content events of the user's watch list.

In some situations, the broadcast content provider acts as anintermediary agent with one or more of the VOD content providers thatown and operate a proprietary VOD system 234. That is, the media device102 is configured to indirectly access the VOD content provider'sproprietary VOD system 234 via the broadcast provider's system.

In such situations, the media content broadcast facility 202 and theInternet content source 232 may be communicatively coupled together viaa communication link 236. The broadcast provider can then receiveinformation that corresponds to the VOD accessible media content eventsavailable from that particular VOD content provider. The broadcastcontent provider can then reformat the information into anon-proprietary VOD GUI that can be utilized by the media devices 102.

In some situations, the access conditions for the media content eventsavailable from the proprietary VOD system 234 via the broadcast providermay be different from the access conditions availed to the media device102 if otherwise directly connected to the Internet content source 232using the browser of the media device 102. In some situations, accessprices for a particular media content event available from theproprietary VOD system 234 may be different for subscribers of thebroadcast provider. For example, a particular media content event may beaccessible for free via the broadcast provider (in view of a premiumsubscription service purchased by the user) and may be available for afee if accessed directly from the proprietary VOD system 234 of theInternet content source 232 using the browser of the media device 102.

In this VOD access situation where VOD accessible media content eventsare available from both the broadcast provider and one or more InternetVOD content providers, the media device 102 has access to informationthat is used to generate and present the non-proprietary VOD GUIprovided by the broadcast provider and the proprietary VOD GUI of theInternet content source 232. If one or more of the VOD accessible mediacontent events available from the broadcast content provider (via aparticular internet content source 232) are included in the user's watchlist, then embodiments of the media content event quick access queuesystem 100 are configured to analyze and recognize this informationpertaining to the above-described VOD accessible media content events.Accordingly, when a content queue 106 is presented to the user, thebroadcast content provider VOD accessible media content eventinformation associated with the user's watch list can be furtherincorporated into the information that is presented to the user for theindicated media content events available via the broadcast contentprovider and via the particular VOD content provider. Thus, the user isable to select a preferred access either through the broadcast contentprovider or directly from the particular Internet VOD contentprovider(s).

FIG. 2 further illustrates a plurality of physical memory medium contentproviders (interchangeably referred to herein as a DVD provider 238)that provide physical access to a plurality of media content events thathave been stored in a physical memory medium. Media content events maybe provided on any suitable physical memory medium. With this contentaccess process, the user takes physical possession of the memory mediumthat stores a particular media content event that the user in interestedin viewing. Typically, the user “rents” the physical memory medium forsome duration for a fee. In some situations, the memory medium, such asa DVD or the like, may be available at a retail outlet, such as aretailer, a movie store or a kiosk. Alternatively, the physical memorymedium may be available from the physical memory medium content providervia a mail or postal service

Each of these DVD providers 238 are owned and operated by a suitablephysical memory medium content provider. Often a DVD provider 238 mayutilize an information system that includes a proprietary GUI systemthat can be accessed by the user, via the media device 102 or anotherelectronic device, so that the user is informed of which particularmedia content events are available from the physical memory mediumcontent provider. The GUI system is often operated on a real-time basis,or near real time basis, such that the user can reliably choose to go tothe physical location to obtain the physical memory medium if availableat an outlet, store, kiosk or the like. Alternatively, or additionally,the user may order a mail delivery of the physical memory medium totheir residence or other designated delivery address. Prices and/ordurations for renting the physical memory medium are also typicallyindicated by the GUI system. Further, in some situations, the DVD maynot yet be available, but its future date of availability will beindicated on the GUI. In some situations, access to the DVD providers238 is limited to subscribers who have paid a subscription fee or thelike.

Using the browser of the media device 102, the user is able to accessthe information that is used to generate and present the GUI system ofthe physical memory medium content provider. Here, the media device 102established a communication link 230 to a DVD provider 238 of interest,and then views the GUI that indicates the particular media contentevents that are available on a physical memory medium from thatparticular physical memory medium content provider.

One skilled in the art appreciates that a broadcast content provideroperating the media content broadcast facility 202 typically provides aplurality of premium subscription content services from a plurality ofother secondary content providers 240, wherein a monthly service fee isassessed monthly by the broadcast content provider. Typically, thesesecondary content providers 240 are directly and communicatively coupledto the media content broadcast facility 202 via a communication link242. The example secondary content provider 240 may optionally have aVOD system. In some instances, the user may currently be a subscriber tothe content service provided by the media content broadcast facility 202secondary content provider 240. The broadcast content provider includesthe VOD assets provided y the secondary content provider 240 using theVOD GUI provided to the media devices 102 by the broadcast contentprovider (along with other media content event assets provided by thebroadcast content provider).

In practice, prior to presentation of a content queue 106 to the user,and/or in response to a request for presentation of the content queue106, embodiments of the media content event quick access queue system100 are configured to access each of the plurality of DVD providers 238and obtain information pertaining to their available media contentevents. That is, the media content event quick access queue system 100operates the browser of media device 102 to establish the communicationlink 230 to the Internet content source 232, downloads or otherwiseobtains the information used to generate and present the GUI of thatparticular physical memory medium content provider, and then processesthis information for incorporation into the media content event queuedata 104.

Summarizing the process that is used to update the information in themedia content event queue data 104 which is used to generate and presenta content queue 106 to the user, a first example step is that the mediacontent event quick access queue system 100 “harvests” current accessinformation from a plurality of different content providers. Here,harvesting is defined as the process hereby the content accessinformation is retrieved and processed by the media device 102 so thataccess information for the plurality of user-specified media contentevents is updated and is current. Accordingly, when the user ispresented the content queue 106, current access information for eachmedia content event of the user's watch list for all different contentproviders is updated and is stored in the media content event queue data104. The user may then optionally select a content provider thatprovides an indicated media content event listed in their watch listbased on their personal preferences.

In some situations, a content provider may have previously providedaccess to one of the user-selected media content events identified inthe user's watch list, but as discovered during the updating process,the content provider currently does not currently provide access to thisparticular media content event. For example, the content provider mayhave discontinued this particular media content event from their list ofcontent assets. Accordingly, during the harvesting process, informationcorresponding to that content provider for that particular one of theidentified media content events that is no longer currently available isdeleted from the media content event queue data.

The harvesting process (interchangeably referred to herein as anupdating process) may be conducted periodically. Alternatively, oradditionally, the harvesting process may be performed in response to auser request for presentation of the content queue 106. Alternatively,or additionally, the harvesting process may be performed at times whenthe user is not currently using their media device 102 for contentpresentation. Alternatively, or additionally, the harvesting process maybe performed at predefined times of the day. Alternatively, oradditionally, the harvesting process may be performed in response to arequest or command issued by the broadcast content provider or anotherparty, such as when a particular content provider updates theirinformation systems. Such harvesting processes may be initiated at anysuitable time and/or during any suitable operating condition at themedia device 102.

With respect to FIG. 2, a hypothetical harvesting process is nowdescribed. Here, the media device 102 establishes a communication link230 to the VOD system 228 operated by the broadcast content provider, toeach of the VOD systems 234 operated by the Internet content sources232, and to each of the DVD providers 238. Preferably, the communicationlinks 230 are established using the browser of the media device 102,though any communication link establishment process or system may beused.

Then, the media device 102 accesses and retrieves the information thatidentifies the particular media content events of the user's watch listthat are available from each of the content providers or sources.Preferably, this information is accessed and retrieved using the browserof the media device 102.

Information identifying each of the available media content events foreach particular content provider or source are compared with the mediacontent events of the user's watch list. When one of the available mediacontent events corresponding to one of the user-specified media contentevents of the user's watch list is identified, then the informationindicating the availability of the media content event is stored intothe media content event queue data 104. That is, information identifyingthe content provider or source is saved.

Access condition information for each of the available user-specifiedmedia content events of the user's watch list is also accessed by themedia device 102. For example, cost information and/or availability dateinformation is accessed and retrieved by the media device 102,preferably using the browser of the media device 102. The retrievedaccess condition information is associated with that particular contentprovider or source, and is then saved into the media content event queuedata 104.

Accordingly, at the conclusion of a harvesting process, the mediacontent event queue data 104 has updates information that identifiespossible content providers or sources of the user-specified mediacontent events listed in the user's watch list. Further, accessconditions (costs, availability dates, etc.) are also included in themedia content event queue data 104.

In the various embodiments, each content provider or source may beserially accessed during the harvesting process. Alternatively, one ormore of the content providers or sources may be concurrently accessedduring the harvesting process. Further, one or more individuallyselected content providers or sources may be included in a harvestprocess while other content providers or sources are omitted.

Additionally, the harvest process may include a search of the currentEPG information that has been provided to the media device 102 by thebroadcast content provider. When a scheduled broadcast of one of theuser-specified media content events in the user's watch list isidentified in the EPG information, the scheduled broadcast times andchannel information are optionally saved into the media content eventqueue data 104.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of showing greater detail of selectedcomponents of a media device 102 provisioned with an embodiment of themedia content event quick access queue system 100. As discussed above,the exemplary media device 102 is communicatively coupled to a mediapresentation system 106.

The non-limiting exemplary media device 102 comprises a media contentstream interface 118, a processor system 120, a memory medium 122, aprogram buffer 302, an optional digital video recorder (DVR) 124, apresentation device interface 304, a remote interface 306, and thecommunication system interface 126. The memory medium 122 comprisesportions for storing the media device logic 308, the electronic programguide (EPG) information 310, a browser 312, media content event queuelogic 314 and the media content event queue data 104. In someembodiments, media device logic 308, the browser 312, and the mediacontent event queue logic 314 may be integrated together, and/or may beintegrated with other logic. In other embodiments, some or all of thesememory and other data manipulation functions may be provided by using aremote server or other electronic devices suitably connected via theInternet or otherwise to a client device. Other media devices 102 mayinclude some, or may omit some, of the above-described media processingcomponents. Further, additional components not described herein may beincluded in alternative embodiments.

The functionality of the media device 102, here a set top box, is nowbroadly described. In a satellite broadcast system, a broadcast contentprovider provides media content that is received in one or more multiplemedia content streams 128 multiplexed together in one or more transportchannels. The transport channels with the media content streams 128 arecommunicated to the media device 102 from a media system sourced from amedia content broadcast facility 202 (FIG. 2) operated by the broadcastcontent provider. The media device 102 is configured to receive one ormore broadcasted satellite signals detected by the receiver antenna 216.Non-limiting examples of other media systems that broadcast a mediacontent stream 128 include a cable system 222, a radio frequency (RF)communication system such as the exemplary OTA system 218, and theInternet.

The one or more media content streams 128 are received by the mediacontent stream interface 118. One or more tuners 316 in the mediacontent stream interface 118 selectively tune to one of the mediacontent streams 128 in accordance with instructions received from theprocessor system 120. The processor system 120, executing the mediadevice logic 308 and based upon a request for a media content event ofinterest specified by a user, parses out media content associated withthe media content event of interest. The media content event of interestis then assembled into a stream of video and/or audio information whichmay be stored by the program buffer 302 such that the media content canbe streamed out to components of the media presentation system 108.Alternatively, or additionally, the parsed out media content may besaved into the DVR 124 for later presentation. The DVR 124 may bedirectly provided in, locally connected to, or remotely connected to,the media device 102. In alternative embodiments, the media contentstreams 128 may stored for later decompression, processing and/ordecryption.

In this simplified embodiment, the presentation device interface 304 isillustrated as coupled to the media presentation system 108 thatincludes the visual display device 110 and the audio presentation device112. Other types of output devices may also be coupled to the mediadevice 102, including those providing any sort of stimuli sensible by ahuman being, such as temperature, vibration and the like. The videoportion of the streamed media content is displayed on the display 114and the audio portion of the streamed media content is reproduced assounds by the speakers 116.

From time to time, information populating the EPG information 310portion of the memory medium 122 is communicated to the media device102, via the media content stream 128 or via another suitable media. TheEPG information 310 stores the information pertaining to the scheduledprogramming of broadcasting indicated media content events. Theinformation may include, but is not limited to, a scheduled presentationstart and/or end time, a channel that the media content event isassociated with, and descriptive information for each media contentevent. The media content event's descriptive information may include thetitle of the media content event, names of performers or actors, date ofcreation, and a summary describing the nature of the media contentevent. Any suitable information may be included in the media contentevent's supplemental information. Upon receipt of a command from theuser requesting presentation of an EPG display, the information in theEPG information 310 is retrieved, formatted, and is then presented onthe display 114 as an EPG 318.

The processes performed by the media device 102 relating to theprocessing of the received media content stream 128 and communication ofa presentable media content event to the components of the mediapresentation system 108 are generally implemented by the processorsystem 120 while executing the media device logic 308. Thus, the mediadevice 102 may perform a variety of functions related to the processingand presentation of one or more media content events received in themedia content stream 128.

The processes performed by the media device 102 relating to theprocessing of the information pertaining to the user-specified mediacontent events included in the media content event queue data 104 aregenerally implemented by the processor system 120 while executing themedia content event queue logic 314. Here, the media content event queuelogic 314 may manage operation of the browser 312 during a harvestingprocess.

FIG. 3 conceptually illustrates an example EPG 318 that indicates aplurality of channels that are scheduled to broadcast different mediacontent events. The example EPG 318 is presented on a display 114 toassist a user to select a particular media content event or channel ofinterest. The EPG 318 is a type of a graphical user interface thatpresents a menu, or a series of menus, with a combination of text,graphical elements and/or symbols to represent viewing or recordingchoices for broadcasting media content events that may be selected bythe user.

In the example EPG 318, programming channels are identified by asuitable identifier, such as the name of the programming station or thelike. Here, the seven channels are identified as stations A-G. The mediadevice 102 is configured to present programming that is provided by manydifferent programming channels, sometime even several hundreds ofdifferent programming channels. Accordingly, the user is able tonavigate about the current EPG 318 so as to be able to accessbroadcasting media content events that are provided on one or morechannels of interest.

Typically, the EPG 318 has the look and feel of a table with programinformation describing available media content events and/or channelsthat are currently being broadcast to the media device 102 in theavailable indicated channels. The information shown on the EPG 318 mayinclude the title of available media content events, along with thescheduled time and date of the media content event presentation. A briefdescription of the media content events may also be provided on the EPG318. The EPG 318 typically indicates the “channel” of the availablemedia content event. The channel identifies the originating source ofthe program, such as a television studio, a premium movie provider, anational program provider, etc. Also, the EPG 318 may present anoptional graphical element 146 for one or more indicated media contentevents.

Individual media content events that are currently available are shownadjacent to the programming channel on which they are available. Forexample, a media content event with the title “Program A1” is currentlyavailable on the programming channel identified as “Station A” (and soon). Thus, the user is able to appreciate which media content events arecurrently available, or are available in the future, for viewing.Further, the user may advance the broadcast time shown in the EGP 318 tofuture dates and times of interest.

The EPG 318 is interactive with the user. The user, via their remotecontrol 130 that is in communication with a media device 102 is able to“scroll” or “navigate” about the EPG 318 to select a media content eventof interest and/or to select a particular channel of interest (therebybeing presented the media content that is being currently broadcast onthat selected channel). When the user focuses on a portion of the EPG318 corresponding to a particular media content event of interest and/ora particular channel of interest, the user may actuate one or morecontrollers 132 of the remote control 130 to cause the media device 102to perform a function relative to the selected media content event orchannel of interest.

For example, if particular media content event of interest is scheduledto begin, or is currently available, the user may select the mediacontent event of interest for immediate presentation on the display 114by navigating to the region of the EPG 318 that indicates thatparticular media content event. One of the controllers 132 on the remotecontrol 130 is then actuated by the user to select that particular mediacontent event.

In response to the user selection, the tuner 316 tunes itself to receivethe media content stream 128 having the channel associated with theselected media content event. The received media content in the tuned-tochannel is then processed and stored into the program buffer 302. Thebuffered media content event is then streamed out from the programbuffer 302 to the components of the media presentation system 108 in acontinuous and uninterrupted manner. Alternatively, or additionally, theuser may have the media device record and store the media content in amemory, such as the example DVR 124, such that the user may later viewthe selected media content event at a more convenient time.

In the various embodiments of the media content event quick access queuesystem 100, the user may select a media content event of interest foraddition to their user's watch list. Thus, based on the particular mediacontent event indicated on the EPG 318, that media content event may beadded to the user's watch list by adding the identifying information ofthat media content event into the media content event queue data 104.When the content queue 106 is presented to the user, this particularuser-specified media content event will be included in the content queue106 as one of the indicated media content events of the user's watchlist.

For example, a particular media content event may be currentlybroadcasting. Here, the initial portion of the media content event (thathas already been broadcast) cannot be viewed. Accordingly, the user mayspecify this particular media content event is to be added into theirwatch list. When the content queue 106 is presented, access options forthis particular media content event will then be indicated to the user.Thus, if the media content event is to be later re-broadcast, thescheduled broadcast date and time can be indicated. If the media contentevent is available from one or more VOD content providers, the user mayaccess the media content event from one of those content sources.

As another example, a particular media content event of interest may bescheduled for broadcasting at a future date and time. Further, the usermay not favor the anticipated broadcast format (which may have beenmodified by the broadcast content provider) and/or may not wish to watchthe commercials that have been interleaved into the media content event.Accordingly, the user may wish to learn about alternative access optionsthat may be available for presentation of that particular media contentevent. Accordingly, the user may add this particular media content eventinto their watch list. When the content queue 106 is presented, accessoptions for this particular media content event will then be indicatedto the user.

In some embodiments, a special dedicated controller 136 on the remotecontrol 130 may be configured to add a focused-to media content eventshown on the EPG 318 to the user's watch list (by adding the identifyinginformation of the media content event into the media content eventqueue data 104). Thus, a single actuation of the controller 136 by theuser will add the focused-to media content event to their watch list.

When a particular media content event is selected by the user forinclusion into their watch list using the EPG 318, the media contentevent quick access queue system 100 may store selected EPG informationinto the media content event queue data 104. For example, the title ofthe user-specified media content event may be saved. Other identifyinginformation that may be used by other content providers or sources maybe saved. Descriptive information summarizing the user-specified mediacontent event and/or genre information may be saved into the mediacontent event queue data 104. If a graphical element is used in thepresentation of the EPG 318, the EPG graphical element may be optionallysaved as the graphical element 146 a. Accordingly, the media contentevent quick access queue system 100 provides a convenient process bywhich the user may select a new media content event for inclusion intheir watch list.

One skilled in the art appreciates that proprietary VOD GUIs from VODproviders and/or that GUIs from physical memory medium content providersmay indicate available media content events to the user. Embodiments ofthe media content event quick access queue system 100 are furtherconfigured to permit the user to focus on an available media contentevent, and then select that media content event for addition into theirwatch list. For example, the user may be viewing a VOD GUI provided bythe first internet content source 232. After the user has focused to oneof the media content events available from that first internet contentsource 232, the user may similarly actuate the controller 136 to causeaddition of that particular media content event into their watch list.When the content queue 106 is presented to the user at a later time, andafter a harvesting process has been completed, the presented contentqueue 106 will indicate that the media device 102 may access thatparticular media content event from the first internet content source232, and also indicate other content providers or sources that alsoprovide access to the same media content event (along with theirrespective access conditions). Any suitable information available fromthe VOD GUI may be added into the media content event queue data 104,such as the title, supplemental information, and/or a graphical element.

FIG. 4 is a second page 402 of an example content queue 106 that shows agreater detail of information about a particular user-specified mediacontent event that is included in the user's watch list. The second page402 of the content queue 106 corresponds to presentation of the contentqueue 106 that is made in response to selection of a focused-toindicated media content event shown on the first page of the contentqueue 106. Returning briefly to FIG. 1, the first indicated mediacontent event (indicated by the text 144 a and the optional graphicalelement 146 a) is illustrated as being hypothetically focused to by theuser. In response to a new user selection made via the remote control130, embodiments of the media content event quick access queue system100 are configured to next present additional information thatidentifies the various content providers or sources that provide accessto the focused-to indicated media content event. Also, supplementalinformation describing the content providers or sources, describingattributes of the accessible media content event from that particularcontent provider or source, and access conditions are indicated on thesecond page 402 of the content queue 106.

In the simplified hypothetical second page 402 of the content queue 106illustrated in FIG. 4, information about four of the six contentproviders or sources that can provide access to the first indicatedmedia content event are shown on this example second page 402. It isappreciated that a paging function, scrolling function or the like maybe used to later show information about the two remaining contentproviders or sources (noting that the first page of the content queue106 shown in FIG. 1 indicates that the first indicated media contentevent was available from six content providers or sources).

In an example embodiment, the second page 402 of the content queue 106indicates the text 144 a and the optional graphical element 146 a of thefirst indicated media content event. Additional supplemental information404 stored in the media content event queue data 104 may also beindicated. Any suitable supplemental information may be shown. Forexample, but not limited to, information identifying actors, setlocation information, film and/or production dates, producer informationor the like may be included in the supplemental information 404.

The second page 402 of the content queue 106 presents content attributeinformation 406 that indicates that a first content source (conceptuallyillustrated as “Content Source A”) currently provides access to thefirst indicated media content event. Here, the user appreciates thatthis first access option is from a broadcasting program station that isbroadcasting on a particular channel of the received broadcasting mediacontent streams 128. The name of the broadcasting content source may bedescribed (and optionally other information, such as a channelidentifier). Further, the content attribute information 406 indicatesthat the format of the first indicated media content event is in highdefinition (HD), that it can be accessed free of any cost, and thattrick functions (such as fast forward, rewind, etc.) are enabled. Also,the content attribute information 406 indicates that commercials will beinterspersed through the broadcasting of the first indicated mediacontent event. Additionally, the content attribute information 406indicates the scheduled future broadcast date and time that the firstcontent provider will be broadcasting this first indicated media contentevent to the media device 102.

In the various embodiments, the presented information describing acontent provider or source may optionally include one or more active hotspots that facilitate access to the indicated media content event. Anactive hot spot (interchangeably referred to herein as an “activeregion”) is a predefined geographic location in a presented GUI that, ifselected by the user, will perform a predefined function. Typically, theregion of the active hot spot is bounded by an outline or otheridentifiable region, and has descriptive text adjacent to and inproximity to the region of the active hot spot to intuitively inform theuser of the predefined operation that will be performed in response tothe user's selection of that active hot spot. The user will navigate toa particular active hot spot of interest, which may optionally beindicated using a focus indicator or the like, and then select theactive hot spot using their remote control 130 or another suitablepointing device or touch sensitive display.

For example, in view that the first content provider will bebroadcasting the first indicated media content event for free during theindicated scheduled broadcast date and time, the user may wish to recordand/or view this first indicated media content event when it isbroadcast by the first content provider. The content attributeinformation 406 includes a first hot spot or active region 408 thatpermits the user to record the broadcasting first indicated mediacontent event. If the user focuses to and selects this active region408, the media device 102 is then configured to automatically record thefirst indicated media content event into the DVR 124 when it isbroadcast at the scheduled future date and time.

Alternatively, or additionally, an active region 410 is provided thatpermits the user to request a notification that reminds the use of thebroadcast of the first indicated media content event. Accordingly, whenthe scheduled broadcast date and time arrives, or in advance by someduration, the media device 102 may issue a notice that is presented tothe user. Here, the user may then choose to manually record thebroadcast of the first indicated media content event and/or change thetuning of the media device 102 to receive and present the firstindicated media content event as it is being broadcast.

The second page 402 of the content queue 106 further presents contentattribute information 412 that indicates that a second content source(“Content Source B”) is scheduled to provide VOD access to the firstindicated media content event at a future date (“next week”). Here, theuser appreciates that this second access option is from a first VODprovider. The name of the first VOD provider may be described (andoptionally other information, such as a channel identifier associatedwith this first VOD provider). Further, the content attributeinformation 412 indicates that first indicated media content event willbe accessed via the Internet (see Communication System 142), indicatesthat the format of the first indicated media content event is in highdefinition (HD), that it can be accessed at a cost of $7.99, andindicates that trick functions (such as fast forward, rewind, etc.) areenabled. Also, the content attribute information 412 indicates that nocommercials will be shown during presentation of the first indicatedmedia content event.

A first active region 414 is provided so that the user may order thefirst indicated media content event from the first VOD provider when themedia content event becomes available from that particular VOD provider.One skilled in the art appreciates that the absence of commercials maybe a desirable user preference, and may even be desirable enough tooffset the access cost charged by this first VOD provider. Because ofthe cost to access the first indicated media content event, a confirmingpop-up pane or the like may be used to confirm that the user is willingto pay or to be billed for the indicated access cost.

Alternatively, or additionally, a second active region 416 is providedthat permits the user to request a notification that reminds the userthat the first indicated media content event is now available from thefirst VOD provider. Accordingly, when the first indicated media contentevent becomes available, or in advance by some duration, the mediadevice 102 may issue a notice that is presented to the user. Here, theuser may then choose to pay the indicated access cost to receive thefirst indicated media content from the first VOD provider.Alternatively, since the media content event queue data 104 will havebeen updated at that time, the user may choose a different accessalternative that is indicated on a newly presented and updated secondpage 402 of the content queue 106.

The second page 402 of the content queue 106 further presents contentattribute information 418 that indicates that a third content source(“Content Source n”) currently provides VOD access to the firstindicated media content event on a subscription basis. Here, the userappreciates that this third access option is from a second VOD providerthat provides the media content event to their subscribers. The name ofthe second VOD provider may be described (and optionally otherinformation, such as a channel identifier associated with this secondVOD provider). Further, the content attribute information 418 indicatesthat first indicated media content event will be accessed via thebroadcast content provider's system, indicates that the format of thefirst indicated media content event is in high definition (HD), that itcan be accessed at for free as part of a subscription, and indicatesthat trick functions (such as fast forward, rewind, etc.) are enabled.Also, the content attribute information 418 indicates that nocommercials will be shown during presentation of the first indicatedmedia content event.

One skilled in the art appreciates that a broadcast content providertypically provides a plurality of premium subscription content servicesfrom a plurality of other content providers, wherein a monthly servicefee is assessed monthly by the broadcast content provider. Typically,these secondary content providers 242 (FIG. 2) have a VOD system. Insome instances, where instances when the user is currently a subscriberto the content service provided by the second VOD provider, a firstactive region 420 may be provided for selection by the user. Here,selection of the active region 420 will cause the user's media device102 to immediately access the media content event for presentation fromthe VOD system of the secondary content providers 240.

Alternatively, in some instances, the user is not a current subscriberto the content service offered by the second VOD provider. Here, theuser may choose to become a new subscriber via the broadcast contentprovider. To entice the user to become a subscriber, the second VODprovider and/or the broadcast content provider may offer a trialsubscription at a limited price and/or duration. A second active region422 may be provided such that in response to the user's selection, theuser becomes a trial subscriber under the trial subscription conditions(not shown). Then, the user's media device 102 may become reconfiguredto provide immediate access to and presentation of the media contentevent provided by the second VOD provider.

Further, the second page 402 of the content queue 106 further presentscontent attribute information 424 that indicates that a fourth contentsource (“Content Source m”) currently provides VOD access, via thebroadcast content providers' network, to the first indicated mediacontent event. Here, the user appreciates that this fourth access optionis from a third VOD provider who is providing content delivered by thebroadcast content provider's broadcast system 204 (FIG. 2). The name ofthe fourth VOD provider may be described (and optionally otherinformation, such as a channel identifier associated with this first VODprovider). Further, the content attribute information 424 indicates thatthe format of the first indicated media content event is in highdefinition (HD), that it can be accessed for free as part of the user'sservice subscription with the broadcast content provider, and indicatesthat commercials are present in the media content event, and indicatesthat trick functions (such as fast forward, rewind, etc.) are disabled.

An active region 426 is provided so that the user may order the firstindicated media content event from the first VOD provider when the mediacontent event becomes available from that particular VOD provider. Oneskilled in the art appreciates that the presence of commercials may beacceptable to the user in view of the free access charges to the mediacontent event. Here, selection of the active region 426 will cause theuser's media device 102 to immediately access the media content eventfor presentation. Because the trick functions are disabled, the userunderstands that they will have to view the commercials duringpresentation of the media content event.

FIG. 5 is a later presented and updated second page 502 of an examplecontent queue 106 that shows a greater detail of information about aparticular user-specified media content event that is included in theuser's watch list. As noted herein, the content queue 106 is updatedsuch that the viewing user is able to view and understand a plurality ofdifferent viewing choices for the media content events included in theirwatch list. The updated second page 502 hypothetically illustrates thataccess choices to view the first indicated media content event (seeFIG. 1) have changed from the earlier presented second page 402 (FIG.4). Here, in response to the user selection of the focused-to firstindicated media content event shown on the first page of the contentqueue 106 (see FIG. 1), the updated additional information indicating aplurality of current access choices for accessing the first indicatedmedia content event are presented to the user.

Similar to the hypothetical example second page 402 (FIG. 4), the secondpage 502 indicates the text 144 a and the optional graphical element 146a that is associated with the first indicated media content event.Additional supplemental information 404 stored in the media contentevent queue data 104 may also be indicated. In the simplifiedhypothetical second page 502 of the content queue 106 illustrated inFIG. 5, information about four of the six content providers or sourcesthat can provide access to the first indicated media content event areshown on this example second page 502. It is appreciated that a pagingfunction, scrolling function or the like may be used to later showinformation about the two remaining content providers or sources (notingthat the first page of the content queue 106 shown in FIG. 1 continues,in this simplified hypothetical example, to indicate that the firstindicated media content event continues to be available from six contentproviders or sources).

The second page 402 of the content queue 106 presents content attributeinformation 406 that indicates that the same first content source(conceptually illustrated as “Content Source A”) currently providesaccess to the first indicated media content event. Here, the contentattribute information 406 is substantially the same as or is similar tothe previously described content attribute information 406 in FIG. 4.However, a different broadcast date 504 (“YYYYY”) is indicated. Here,one skilled in the art understands that the broadcast of the firstindicated media content event by the broadcasting first content sourcehas already occurred, and that a new date 504 corresponds to an updatedre-broadcast date for the first indicated media content event.

Similarly, the second page 402 of the content queue 106 presents contentattribute information 506 that indicates that the same second contentsource (conceptually illustrated as “Content Source B”) currentlyprovides access to the first indicated media content event on anon-demand basis via its VOD system. Here, the content attributeinformation 506 is substantially the same as or is similar to thepreviously described content attribute information 412 in FIG. 4.However, the content attribute information 506 indicates a currentavailability of the first indicated media content event (in contrast tothe content attribute information 412 which indicated availability ofthe first indicated media content event at some future time, namely,“next week”). Here, one skilled in the art understands that the firstindicated media content event is now available from the second contentsource.

Further, in contrast to the content attribute information 412 of FIG. 4,access regions have been updated to reflect current relevant accessoptions available to the user. Here, the previously presented activeregions 414 and 416 are no longer relevant access options since thefirst indicated media content event is currently available from thesecond content source. A now-relevant active region 508 is provided sothat the user can immediately access the first indicated media contentevent from the second content source (here, the first VOD provider).Here, selection of the active region 508 will cause the user's mediadevice 102 to immediately access the media content event forpresentation.

One skilled in the art appreciates that since this access to the firstindicated media content event is provided without commercials and has noaccess charges (free), that this access method may be a preferred accessmethod over other alternative available access methods (which haveaccess charges and/or have commercials). Embodiments of the mediacontent event quick access queue system 100 may be optionally configuredto identify a potential preferred access method based on userpreferences and/or other predefined criteria, and then may indicate anaccess recommendation to the user. To conceptually illustrate an accessrecommendation, the text of the content attribute information 506 isillustrated using a bold font. Any suitable highlighting method, such asa text color, a background shading, and/or an illumination intensitychange (brightness adjustment) may be used to indicate an access optionthat is being presented as a recommended access option to the user.Here, the access recommendation is made since the access is immediateand is free of charge to the user.

Some embodiments of the media content event quick access queue system100 may be optionally configured to learn user preferences for preferredaccess options. The media content event queue logic 314 (FIG. 3) mayoptionally include a suitable learning algorithm that, after someduration of user actions and/or selections made via the content queue106, learns one or more user preferences. For example, the user may havepreviously selected the second content source (Content Source B) overother access options a plurality of times. After the number of timesthat the user has selected the second content source over other accessoptions, the media content event quick access queue system 100 learns ofthe user's preference for the first VOD content provider. That is, ifthe user selected the first VOD content provider a number of times overa predefined threshold number of times and/or over a predefinedduration, then the media content event quick access queue system 100learns of the user's preference for the first VOD content provider.Accordingly, an access recommendation can be made to the user when thecontent queue 106 is presented when the media content event is currentlyaccessible from the first VOD content provider.

The updated second page 502 hypothetically illustrates that accesschoices to view the first indicated media content event (see FIG. 1)have changed from the earlier presented second page 402 (FIG. 4). Here,a new content provider (Content Source O) is indicated by the contentattribute information 510. The content attribute information 510 isillustrated as replacing the content attribute information 418 (FIG. 4)associated with the third content provider. Here, one skilled in the artappreciates that the particular sorting used for presentation of thecontent queue 106 may have resulted in the above-described change in thepresented content attribute information 510. Alternatively, oradditionally, it may be possible that the third content providerindicated in the content attribute information 418 of the earlierpresented second page 402 may no longer be providing access to the firstindicated media content event of the user's watch list. Alternatively,or additionally, this new content provider may have become a higherpreferred access alternatively based on the user's preferences.Alternatively, or additionally, this new content provider may not havebeen able to provide access to the first indicated media content eventat the time that the earlier second page 402 was presented to the user.Any suitable reasoning may have resulted in the hypothetical change inthe second page 502.

Here, the user appreciates that this third current access option is froma content provider that provides the media content event that has beenstored on a physical memory medium. The name of the content provider maybe described (and optionally other information, such as a location oraddress of the content provider). Further, the content attributeinformation 510 indicates that first indicated media content event willbe accessed via a DVD, indicates that the DVD is currently available,and indicates that the DVD can be rented for a cost ($1.29) for a oneday rental.

A first active region 512 is provided so that the user may reserve a DVDwith the first indicated media content event for pickup at the indicatedlocation or address, and that the rental cost is for a one-day rentalperiod. One skilled in the art appreciates that a DVD may be a desirableuser preference, and may even be desirable enough to offset the user'seffort of physically travelling to the location to pick up the DVD. Inresponse to selecting the active region 512, the GUI managing the DVDsfor the content provider is accessed, preferably using the browser 312(FIG. 3) of the media device 102. The media content event quick accessqueue system 100 then operates to automatically “reserve” the DVD forthe later pick up by the user. Here, the user does not need toseparately access the GUI managing the DVDs for the content provider.The user simply has to travel to the indicated location or address topick up their DVD rental.

Alternatively, or additionally, the DVD may be available for the contentprovided via a postal service, a mail service, or another suitabledelivery service (for example, a drone-based delivery service or courierservice). In response to selecting the active region 514, the GUImanaging the DVDs for the content provider is accessed, preferably usingthe browser 312 (FIG. 3) of the media device 102. The media contentevent quick access queue system 100 then operates to automatically“order” the DVD for the user. Here, the user does not need to separatelyaccess the GUI managing the DVDs for the content provider. The usersimply has to monitor the designated delivery location for the upcomingdelivery of their DVD rental. One skilled in the art appreciates thatthe access conditions and/or cost may be different for this accessalternative (as compared to the described hypothetical DVD pick-upaccess conditions and access cost), and as such, such differences may beoptionally indicated in the content attribute information 510.

Additionally, a new content provider (Content Source p) is indicated bythe content attribute information 516. The content attribute information516 is illustrated as replacing the content attribute information 424(FIG. 4) associated with the fourth content provider. Here, one skilledin the art appreciates that the particular sorting used for presentationof the content queue 106 may have resulted in the above-described changein the presented content attribute information 516, that it may bepossible that the fourth content provider indicated in the contentattribute information 424 of the earlier presented second page 402 mayno longer be providing access to the first indicated media content eventof the user's watch list, that this new content provider may have becomea higher preferred access alternatively based on the user's preferences,and/or that this new content provider may not have been able to provideaccess to the first indicated media content event at the time that theearlier second page 402 was presented to the user. Any suitablereasoning may have resulted in the hypothetical change in the secondpage 502.

Here, the user appreciates that this fourth current access option isfrom another content provider that also provides the media content eventthat has been stored on a physical memory medium. The name of thecontent provider may be described (and optionally other information,such as a location or address of the content provider). Further, thecontent attribute information 516 indicates that first indicated mediacontent event will be accessed via a DVD, indicates that the DVD iscurrently available, and indicates that the DVD can be rented for a cost($3.29) for a five day rental. Further, the user understands that thefourth content provider will not provide DVDs through the mail or otherdelivery system (since there is no ordering option indicated by anactive hot spot).

Here, a single active region 518 is provided so that the user mayreserve a DVD with the first indicated media content event for pickup atthe indicated location or address, and that the rental cost is for afive-day rental period. One skilled in the art appreciates that arelatively long rental period for a DVD may be a desirable userpreference, and may even be desirable enough to offset the user's effortof physically travelling to the location to pick up the DVD. In responseto selecting the active region 518, the GUI managing the DVDs for thefourth content provider is accessed, preferably using the browser 312(FIG. 3) of the media device 102. The media content event quick accessqueue system 100 then operates to automatically “reserve” the DVD forthe later pick up by the user. Here, the user does not need toseparately access the GUI managing the DVDs for the content provider.The user simply has to travel to the indicated location or address topick up their DVD rental.

In some embodiments, when access options change for a particular one ofthe media content events of the user's watch list, a notificationindicating the change in the one or more access options is generated andis then communicated to the user. For example, the media device 102 maygenerate a notification that is presented on the display 114 of themedia presentation system 108 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, or additionally,the generated notification may be communicated to another electronicdevice for presentation to the user. For example, the access optionchange notification may be presented on the user's cell phone, smartphone, tablet, and or computer.

The access option change notification may be presented periodically,when a change in any access option occurs, and/or when a change to apreferred access options occurs. Such access option change notificationmay be presented under any suitable conditions depending upon theconfiguration of the media content event quick access queue system 100.The notification conditions may be predefined by a third party, such asthe broadcast content provider who is responsible for managing operationof the media device 102. Alternatively, or additionally, the user mayspecify the notification conditions based on their personal preferences.

In the various embodiments, one skilled in the art appreciates that thedifferent content providers may identify their available media contentevents using a variety of different techniques. Further, the dataformats used by these different proprietary GUIs may vary from onecontent provider to another. In the various embodiments of the mediacontent event quick access queue system 100, the media device 102maintains a table structure or other suitable data structure wherein thedata of interest used to generate and present the content queue 106 canbe obtained from the variety of different information sources regardlessof the particular format that is used for the information.

For example, the user may use the Internet feature of their television110 to access a particular content provider. Since the remote control130 is configured to operate both the media device 102 and thetelevision 110, the media device 102 is configured by the media contentevent quick access queue system 100 to “learn” the steps (and associatedcommands) necessary to access that particular content provider'sproprietary VOD GUI system, and to access a media content event from thecontent provider's proprietary VOD GUI system. Here, operation of one ormore of the controllers 132 of the remote control 130 will configure theremote control to operate in a learning mode. As the user steps throughthe process of accessing a particular media content event from thecontent provider's proprietary VOD GUI system, the media device 102tracks and records the various commands (and their entry sequence)entered by the user. Once the user has completed the access process, thelearning mode is disabled by the user (preferably using one or more ofthe controllers 132).

In a hypothetical application, the user actuates a controller 132 ontheir remote control 130 to cause, for example, their television 110 toaccess the Internet (FIG. 1). The remote control 130 communicates afirst wireless signal 134 with information corresponding to the actuatedcontroller and/or command instructions that causes the television toaccess the Internet in response to the television detecting the firstwireless signal 134. Here, the media device 102 concurrently detects thesame communicated first wireless signal 134 (after being configured tooperate in the above-described learning mode). Information correspondingto this first detected wireless signal 134 is saved by the remotecontrol.

When the television 110 accesses the Internet, an Internet navigationGUI is typically presented which displays a plurality of graphical iconsthat are each associated with one of a plurality of internet sites thatthe user can navigate to and focus on. Assuming that the Internet VODcontent provider is shown on the presented Internet navigation GUI, theuser may enter a plurality of actuation to directional controllers 132on their remote control 130 to navigate to the graphical icon associatedwith the Internet VOD content provider of interest. Here, a plurality ofnavigations commands are communicated to the TV 110 as a series ofsecond wireless signals 134 which cause the TV 110 to move the focusonto the graphical icon of the Internet VOD content provider ofinterest. The media device 102 also detects the second series ofwireless signals 134 and saves corresponding information associated withthe navigation commands issued from the remote control 130. For example,the user may have to actuate a left direction controller 132 and then adownward direction controller to move the focus once to the left andonce to the right to change focus to the graphical icon corresponding tothe VOD content provider of interest. Here, media device 102 alsodetects the left and the downward focus movement commands of the secondseries of wireless signals 134, and then saves corresponding informationassociated with the leftward and the downward navigation commands issuedfrom the remote control 130.

Next, the user would actuate another controller 132 to cause a selectionof the currently focused to graphical icon associated with the VODcontent provider of interest. In response to a third wireless signal 134issued from the remote control 130, the TV 110 would initiate ancommunication link or other suitable Internet-based connection to theInternet content source 232 (such as an Internet site or other suitableremote site as described in FIG. 2) operated by the VOD content providerof interest. The media device 102 also detects the third wireless signal134 and saves corresponding information associated with the selectioncommand issued from the remote control 130.

Next, the proprietary search and media content event listing systemprovides a proprietary VOD GUI that is presented on the display 114 ofthe TV 110. The user can then visually see the accessible media contentevents that are available to the media device from that particularInternet VOD content provider. Often, the initially presentedproprietary VOD GUI does not provide a listing of all available mediacontent events (and any associated access conditions and/or costs). Forexample, the initially presented proprietary VOD GUI may indicate aplurality of different content genres or classifications that the usermay focus on and then select. For example, groupings of comedies, actionfilms, recently watched, newly available media content events, or thelike may be indicated on the initially presented proprietary VOD GUI.Accordingly, the user must next operate a plurality of controllers 132on their remote control 130 to move the focus on the proprietary VOD GUIto an option that cause a listing of all available media content events.Each time the user actuates one of the controllers 132, a wirelesssignal 134 is emitted from the remote control 130 that is detected byboth the television 110 and the media device 102. The media device 102saves corresponding information associated with the navigation commandsand the selection commands in the detected wireless signals 134 issuedfrom the remote control 130.

Once the user has navigated about the initially presented proprietaryVOD GUI and has caused presentation of a second proprietary VOD GUIwhich lists all available media content events, the user may actuateanother controller 132 or 136 to cause an ending of the learningfunction being performed by the media device 102.

Based on the above-described series of user commands entered by the userby the serial actuation of the controllers 132 of their remote control130, the media device 102 generates an emulated command list that isassociated with that Internet VOD content provider. When the mediadevice 102 later performs an access update, the media device 102 simplygenerates and communicates the commands of the emulated command list tothe TV 110 and/or to the internet content source 232, thereby obtainingaccess to the Internet VOD content provider's proprietary VOD GUIsystem. Once the electronic information that is used to present aproprietary VOD GUI which lists all available media content events fromhat particular VOD content provider of interest is accessed by the mediadevice 102, the accessed information may be compared with theuser-specified list of media content events stored in the media contentevent queue data 104, and then the access information may then beincorporated into the media content event queue data 104 for each of theuser-specified media content events.

Further, when the second page of the content queue 106 is presented tothe user which indicates accessibility of a particular media contentevent on their watch list from this particular Internet VOD contentprovider, the media device 102 may identify and create the appropriateactive regions (hot spots) shown on the content queue 106 that providesthe user access selection options described herein. As noted above,selection of an active region causes a particular predefined operationthat is performed by the media device 102. The operating instructionsassociated with the operation are determined based on theabove-described learning process (or at least from another similarlearning process). Thus, a user selection of a particular availableactive region may cause immediate access to a media content event ofinterest that is accessible from that particular Internet VOD contentprovider.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of themedia content event quick access queue system 100 are merely possibleexamples of implementations of the invention. Many variations andmodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments. All suchmodifications and variations are intended to be included herein withinthe scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.

1. A method of indicating media content event access options that may beused by a media device to access at least one user-specified mediacontent event, the method comprising: presenting on a display controlledby the media device a first listing that indicates a plurality ofuser-specified media content events, wherein the first listing of theplurality of user-specified media content events corresponds to a user'swatch list of previously specified media content events that the user isinterested in accessing at a current time or at a future time, andwherein the first listing indicates a number that specifies a number ofdifferent content sources that provide access for each of the pluralityof user-specified media content events shown on the first listing;receiving a user input that corresponds to a selection of one of theplurality of user-specified media content events indicated on the firstlisting; and presenting on the display controlled by the media device asecond listing that indicates access information for at least aplurality of the different content sources that provide access to theselected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events,wherein the second listing presents access information that informs theuser of at least one access option that may be selected by the user tocause the media device to access the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events, and wherein the second listingpresents content attribute information that informs the user of at leastone attribute of the selected one of the plurality of user-specifiedmedia content events that is provided by the associated content source.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first listing indicates a requestdate for each of the plurality of user-specified media content events,and wherein the request date indicates the date that the user requestedthe corresponding one of the plurality of user-specified media contentevents.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: presenting on thedisplay controlled by the media device at least one active region on thefirst listing, wherein the at least one active region is selectable bythe user; and receiving, at the media device, at least one user commandthat is issued from a remote control, wherein the at least one usercommand causes a focusing to be indicated on the first listing thatidentifies the selected one of the plurality of user-specified mediacontent events, wherein a subsequent user selection of the at least oneactive region will cause the media device to perform a predefinedoperation associated with accessing the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events, and wherein the predefinedoperation is one of a play operation that causes the media device toimmediately access and present the associated selected one of theplurality of user-specified media content events or a record operationthat causes the media device to record the selected one of the pluralityof user-specified media content events into a digital video recorder ofthe media device when the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events is broadcast to the media device bya broadcast content provider.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst listing initially indicates a first plurality of user-specifiedmedia content events selected from the plurality of user-specified mediacontent events, the method further comprising: presenting on the displaycontrolled by the media device at least one active region on the firstlisting, wherein the at least one active region is selectable by theuser; and receiving, at the media device, at least one user command thatis issued from a remote control, wherein the at least one user commandcorresponds to a selection of the at least one active region; andwherein the first listing is modified to present a second plurality ofuser-specified media content events that were not indicated on theinitially presented first listing.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein foreach one of the plurality of the different content sources indicated onthe second listing, the method further comprises: presenting on thedisplay controlled by the media device a first content attribute on thesecond listing that indicates an identity of the content source thatprovides access to the selected one of the plurality of user-specifiedmedia content events; presenting on the display controlled by the mediadevice a second content attribute on the second listing that indicateswhether the selected one of the plurality of user-specified mediacontent events is presented with commercials; and presenting on thedisplay controlled by the media device the second content attribute onthe second listing that indicates whether the selected one of theplurality of user-specified media content events is presented with trickfunctions that are enabled or disabled.
 6. The method of claim 1,wherein for at least one of the plurality of the different contentsources indicated on the second listing, the method further comprises:presenting on the display controlled by the media device a first contentattribute on the second listing that indicates an identity of thecontent source that provides access to the selected one of the pluralityof user-specified media content events; presenting on the displaycontrolled by the media device first access information that informs theuser of an access cost to immediately access the selected one of theplurality of user-specified media content events from the identifiedcontent source; and presenting on the display controlled by the mediadevice an active region on the second listing, wherein the active regionis selectable by the user, wherein in response to receiving at least oneuser command that is issued from a remote control, the media deviceimmediately accesses the selected one of the plurality of user-specifiedmedia content events from the identified content source, and thenpresents the selected one of the plurality of user-specified mediacontent events on the display controlled by the media device, andwherein the user is charged the indicated access cost.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein for at least one of the plurality of the differentcontent sources indicated on the second listing, the method furthercomprises: presenting on the display controlled by the media devicefirst access information that informs the user that the selected one ofthe plurality of user-specified media content events is scheduled for abroadcast to the media device at a future time; and presenting on thedisplay controlled by the media device an active region on the secondlisting, wherein the active region is selectable by the user, wherein inresponse to receiving at least one user command that is issued from aremote control, the media device configures a digital video recorder torecord the selected one of the plurality of user-specified media contentevents when broadcast by the associated content source.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein for at least one of the plurality of the differentcontent sources indicated on the second listing, the method furthercomprises: presenting on the display controlled by the media devicefirst access information that informs the user that the selected one ofthe plurality of user-specified media content events is scheduled for abroadcast to the media device at a future time; and presenting on thedisplay controlled by the media device an active region on the secondlisting, wherein the active region is selectable by the user, wherein inresponse to receiving at least one user command that is issued from aremote control, the media device generates and presents a notificationon the display controlled by the media device that indicates thebroadcast of the selected one of the plurality of user-specified mediacontent events, and wherein the notification is presented just prior toor at the time of the broadcast of the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinfor at least one of the plurality of the different content sourcesindicated on the second listing, the method further comprises:presenting on the display controlled by the media device a first contentattribute on the second listing that indicates an identity of thecontent source that provides access to the selected one of the pluralityof user-specified media content events, wherein the user is a subscriberto the identified content source; presenting on the display controlledby the media device first access information that informs the user offree access to immediately access the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events from the identified content source;and presenting on the display controlled by the media device an activeregion on the second listing, wherein the active region is selectable bythe user, wherein in response to receiving at least one user commandthat is issued from a remote control, the media device immediatelyaccesses the selected one of the plurality of user-specified mediacontent events from the identified content source, and then presents theselected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events onthe display controlled by the media device.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein for at least one of the plurality of the different contentsources indicated on the second listing, the method further comprises:presenting on the display controlled by the media device a first contentattribute on the second listing that indicates an identity of thecontent source that provides access to the selected one of the pluralityof user-specified media content events using a physical memory medium;presenting on the display controlled by the media device first accessinformation that informs the user that the selected one of the pluralityof user-specified media content events will be reserved for pick up bythe user at a location associated with the identified content source;and presenting on the display controlled by the media device an activeregion on the second listing, wherein the active region is selectable bythe user, wherein in response to receiving at least one user commandthat is issued from a remote control, the media device communicatesinformation reserving the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events to the identified content source.11. The method of claim 1, wherein for at least one of the plurality ofthe different content sources indicated on the second listing, themethod further comprises: presenting on the display controlled by themedia device a first content attribute on the second listing thatindicates an identity of the content source that provides access to theselected one of the plurality of user-specified media content eventsusing a physical memory medium; presenting on the display controlled bythe media device first access information that informs the user that theselected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events canbe delivered to the user at a location associated with the user; andpresenting on the display controlled by the media device an activeregion on the second listing, wherein the active region is selectable bythe user, wherein in response to receiving at least one user commandthat is issued from a remote control, the media device communicatesinformation ordering for delivery from the identified content source theselected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events.12. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to presenting the first listingon the display controlled by the media device, the method furthercomprises: receiving a plurality of user selections for accessing otherones of the plurality of user-specified media content events; andlearning from the received plurality of user selections for accessingthe other one of the plurality of user-specified media content events amost often used content source that provides access to the accessedother ones of plurality of user-specified media content events, whereinthe most often used content source is learned to be a preferred contentsource, and wherein when the second listing is presented on the displaycontrolled by the media device, the method comprises: identifying thepreferred content source from the plurality of the different contentsources that provide access to the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events; and indicating on the secondlisting the preferred content source which provides access to theselected one of the plurality of user-specified media content events.13. The method of claim 1, wherein after presenting the first listingand the second listing, the method further comprises: establishing acommunication link from the media device to each one of the plurality ofcontent sources that are able to provide content to the media device;receiving, via the established communication link, media content eventavailability information from each of the plurality of content sourcesthat identifies available media content events provided by that contentprovider; comparing the identified available media content eventsprovided by that content provider with the plurality of user-specifiedmedia content events to determine whether each one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events are currently accessible from thatcontent provider; when an identified available media content eventprovided by that content provider matches one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events, storing access information thatdefines the access conditions for which that one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events will be accessible from that contentprovider; presenting on the display controlled by the media device anupdated first listing that indicates an updated plurality ofuser-specified media content events, wherein the updated first listingof the plurality of user-specified media content events corresponds tothe user's watch list of previously specified media content events thatthe user is interested in accessing at the current time or at a futuretime, and wherein the updated first listing indicates an updated numberthat specifies the number of different content sources that currentlyprovide access for each of the plurality of user-specified media contentevents shown on the updated first listing.
 14. The method of claim 13,wherein after presenting the updated first listing, the method furthercomprising: receiving another user input that corresponds to a selectionof one of the plurality of user-specified media content events indicatedon the updated first listing; and presenting on the display controlledby the media device an updated second listing that indicates updatedaccess information for at least the plurality of the different contentsources that provide access to the selected one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events.
 15. The method of claim 13, whereininformation used to generate the first listing and the second listingreside in a media content event queue data, and wherein one of theidentified media content events previously provided by a contentprovider is no longer currently available by the content provider, themethod further comprising: deleting information corresponding to thatcontent provider for the one of the identified media content events thatis no longer currently available from the media content event queuedata.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein after presenting the firstlisting and the second listing, the method further comprises: receivingelectronic program guide (EPG) information that indicates a broadcastschedule for a plurality of media content events that are to bebroadcast to the media device by a broadcast content provider; comparingthe broadcasting media content events identified in the EPG informationwith the plurality of user-specified media content events to determinewhether each one of the plurality of user-specified media content eventsare scheduled for broadcast in the EPG information; when an identifiedavailable media content event scheduled for broadcast in the EPGinformation matches one of the plurality of user-specified media contentevents, storing broadcast schedule information associated with that oneof the plurality of user-specified media content events; presenting onthe display controlled by the media device an updated first listing thatindicates an updated plurality of user-specified media content events,wherein the updated first listing of the plurality of user-specifiedmedia content events corresponds to the user's watch list of previouslyspecified media content events that the user is interested in accessingat the current time or at a future time, and wherein the updated firstlisting indicates an updated number that specifies the number ofdifferent content sources that currently provide access for each of theplurality of user-specified media content events shown on the updatedfirst listing; receiving another user input that corresponds to aselection of one of the plurality of user-specified media content eventsindicated on the first listing; presenting on the display controlled bythe media device an updated second listing, wherein the updated secondlisting indicates the current broadcast schedule of the selected one ofthe plurality of user-specified media content events.
 17. The method ofclaim 1, wherein after presenting the first listing and the secondlisting, the method further comprises: receiving electronic programguide (EPG) information that indicates a broadcast schedule for aplurality of media content events that are to be broadcast to the mediadevice by a broadcast content provider; presenting an EPG on the displaycontrolled by the media device, wherein the presented EPG is based onthe received EPG information; receiving a selection of one of the mediacontent events indicated on the presented EPG; and adding informationthat identifies the selected media content event as a new one of theplurality of user-specified media content events.
 18. The method ofclaim 1, wherein after presenting the first listing and the secondlisting, the method further comprises: receiving information from avideo on demand (VOD) provider that indicates an accessibility of aplurality of media content events that are currently available from theVOD provider; presenting a VOD graphical user interface (GUI) on thedisplay controlled by the media device that lists the currentlyavailable media content events, wherein the presented VOD GUI is basedon the received information; receiving a selection of one of the mediacontent events indicated on the presented VOD GUI; and addinginformation that identifies the selected media content event as a newone of the plurality of user-specified media content events.
 19. A mediadevice, comprising: a media content stream interface configured toreceive a broadcasting media content stream with at least one mediacontent event; a communication system interface that is configured tocommunicatively couple the media device to a plurality of video ondemand (VOD) content sources; a memory medium that stores media contentevent queue data, wherein the media content event queue data comprises:first information that identifies a plurality of user-specified mediacontent events; second information for each one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events that identifies a plurality ofcontent sources that are able to currently provide access to thecorresponding user-specified media content event via the communicationsystem interface or via the media content stream interface; and thirdinformation that describes at least one access condition associated witheach of the identified plurality of content sources, wherein the thirdinformation specifies the at least one access condition for accessingthe corresponding user-specified media content event from thatrespective identified content source; and a remote interface configuredto receive a wireless signal from a remote control, wherein the wirelesssignal includes user specified information and commands; a processorsystem communicatively coupled to the media content stream interface,the communication system interface, the remote interface and the memorymedium, wherein the processor system is configured to: present on adisplay controlled by the media device a first listing that indicatesthe plurality of user-specified media content events, wherein the firstlisting of the plurality of user-specified media content eventscorresponds to a user's watch list of previously specified media contentevents that the user is interested in accessing at a current time or ata future time, and wherein the first listing indicates a number thatspecifies the number of different content sources that provide accessfor each of the plurality of user-specified media content events shownon the first listing; receive a user input in a received wireless signalthat corresponds to a selection of one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events indicated on the first listing; andpresent on the display controlled by the media device a second listingthat indicates access information for at least a plurality of thedifferent content sources that provide access to the selected one of theplurality of user-specified media content events, wherein the secondlisting presents access information that informs the user of at leastone access option that may be selected by the user to cause the mediadevice to access the selected one of the plurality of user-specifiedmedia content events, and wherein the second listing presents contentattribute information that informs the user of at least one attribute ofthe selected one of the plurality of user-specified media content eventsthat is provided by the associated content source.
 20. The media deviceof claim 19, wherein the memory medium is further configured to storeelectronic program guide (EPG) information that indicates a broadcastschedule for a plurality of media content events that are to bebroadcast to the media device by a broadcast content provider, andwherein the processor system is further configured to: compare thebroadcasting media content events identified in the EPG information withthe plurality of user-specified media content events to determinewhether each one of the plurality of user-specified media content eventsare scheduled for broadcast in the EPG information, such that when anidentified available media content event scheduled for broadcast in theEPG information matches one of the plurality of user-specified mediacontent events, broadcast schedule information associated with that oneof the plurality of user-specified media content events is stored intothe third information associated with the content source that isbroadcasting the associated user-specified media content event;establish a communication link to each one of a plurality of VOD contentsources, wherein the processor system accesses current accessinformation for each of the plurality of user-specified media contentevents; and compare the accessed information received from each one ofthe plurality of VOD content sources with the stored third informationsuch that when the identified accessible media content event matches oneof the plurality of user-specified media content events, the currentaccess information associated with that one of the plurality ofuser-specified media content events is stored into the third informationassociated with the VOD content source.